Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle strain, left knee strain, and bilateral hip strain due to a lack of etiology opinions in the record.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for migraine headaches and right ankle impingement were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date available was June 27, 2019.

The Board is remanding the cases due to an incomplete record and a need for additional information regarding applications filed prior to March 9, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 21, 2025.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as not meeting VA criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's left ACL tear, right ankle sprain, lower back strain, and right shoulder strain are all denied as not meeting VA criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is denied as there was no evidence of its onset during service and the VA examiner found no nexus between his current condition and service.,Service connection for spinal stenosis is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not less than 60 degrees.,Bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating due to the speech recognition scores being at Level I (94%) in both ears.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability and tendonitis, is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of marked limited motion or other significant impairment.

The appeal for service connection of a bilateral foot disorder is dismissed. The appeals for service connection of OSA, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinion provided by the examiner is inadequate for secondary service connection claims and thus remanded to obtain a new opinion.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinion provided by the examiner is inadequate for secondary service connection claims and thus remanded to obtain a new opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for migraines, a left shoulder disability, a right elbow disability, a left wrist disability, and a bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle and left ankle conditions, finding no current disability. The Veteran's claims for left hip bursitis, right hip bursitis, headaches, and tinnitus have been granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected lumbar spine disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus was also granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted service connection, and he receives a 10% rating for his right and left knee disabilities based on limitation of motion. Separate 20% ratings are assigned for instability in both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of functional impairment. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if any service-connected disability results in loss of use of both lower extremities, one lower extremity and one upper extremity, or residuals affecting balance and propulsion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracic strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left ankle ganglion cyst and ruptured saphenous vein, and left great toe matrixectomy with a left medial foot scar. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for HTN, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, gout, and right leg disability are all granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding no chronic condition during or after service and that the current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee instability is granted, with a 30 percent rating. The claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis (flexion) and left hip strain, osteoarthritis and bursitis based on painful motion are denied. The claim for an increased rating for right ankle osteoarthritis is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied.,Service connection has been granted for chronic right ankle sprain, chronic coughing, and cervical spine condition. Service connection for chronic shortness of breath, left knee condition, and right knee condition are also granted.